Hunger mania? Criticism of the dramatization of eating disorders by the media

摘要

Reports in the media are becoming more frequent that eating disorders, in particular anorexia, bulemia and binge-eating, have increased in recent years. In contrast, the present approach shows that this is not the case. The true frequencies of occurrence (real prevalences) have in fact been relatively constant for many years, as shown by epidemiological studies. This must be differentiated from occasionally determined increases in the frequencies of diagnosis (diagnosis prevalences); however, this not an expression of actual increases in frequencies but reflects a higher sensitivity and improvement of the healthcare system and in the recognition of such diseases.